Cotton-seed-delinting machine.



in. 821,256. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

W. A. RAGSDALE. COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.17. 1905.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

i I r VII/1 um um lm /g/lgm um um I O PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

W. A. RAGSDALE. OOTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE.

APILIOATION FILED NOV. 17I 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Snow/M501, Fagysfi/a w martian r srnrns .PATENT OFFICE lt lllblllz il vl ADRON RAGSDALE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR 'lO INTERNATIONAL COTTON SEED DELINTING COMPANY, OF WASHlNGTON, DlSil-HOT OF OOLUMBKA, A OORPORATlON OF MAINE.

@OTTON SEEO DEMNTENG MAOHlNEH Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed lll'ovemberv 17,1905. Serial No. 287,812.

To ceZZ whom, it mayzconcern:

Be it known that I, WrLLrAN Anson RAos- DALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at fJashi-ngton, inthe District of Columbia,

have invented certain new and useful Imdelinting-machine comprising positive and effectual means 'for thorougldy removing the I lint from cotton-seed and efiecting the com- I 5 plete separation therefrom of the fiber, dust,

trash, and other foreign matter.

in the practical operation of cotton-seedoil mills the preparation of the seed for the press'is a step in the process which is of the utmost importance. It is therefore the constant aim of oil-mill operators to clean the cotton-seed as thoroughly as possible of the lint adhering thereto. Various expedients have been resorted to for accomplishing this 2 5 purpose, for the reason that heretofore it has been found practically im ossible to provide in a single delintingmachine the construction and capacity necessary to accomplish a thorough delinting of the seed. Consequently one of the important parts of the present-day cotton-seedbil mill is the linter-machine, through which the cotton-seed received from the gin is run for the purpose of removing therefrom the long fiber and'also 5 as'much of the other fiber as possible through the aid of such a machine. This operation is entirely independent of what is understood tobe the delinting of cottonseed, and in this connection it is to be noted. that the primary and fundamental object of the present inven tion is to consolidate in a single machine cooperating mechanisms which simultaneously provide for the linting and delinting of the cotton-seed in the sense understood by 5 the oil-mill operators In carrying out the foregoing object of consolidating cooperating linting and delinting mechanisms in' a single machine the invention provides an improved construction wherein the long lint or fiber is eli'ectually removed from the cotton-seed simultaneously with therdelinting action which scours off the short fiber and which short fiber, together ,means for supplying air uniformly throughout the delinting-chamber in such a way as ported between the open and oppositely-arwith the dust, trash, and other foreign matter, is disposed of through a suction d1scharg 5 5 ing action entirely independent of the discharging means provided for the long lint.

Another and important object of themvention is to provide improved and-effectual to positively insure the drawing off of the short lint, dust, trash, and foreign substance Without interference with that portion'of the mechanism which takes out and disposes of the long lint or fiber. H

With these and other ob ects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the

same consists in the novel construction, com bination, and arrangement of arts hereinafter more fully described, il ustrated; and claimed. v

The essential features of the invention involved in carrying out the objects above indicated are susceptible to structural change without departing from the scope thereof; but a preferred embodiment of the machine is shown in the accompanying drawings in which I Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cotton-seeddelinting machine embodyin the present invention. Fi 2 is a vertical on itudinal sectional view of the complete machine. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a fragment of the rotary agitator, which also serves the function of an air-distributer for feeding air into and throughout the delintingchamber of the scouring-shell.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention the delintin mechanism proper or that part of the madliine which provides for securing off 9 5 the closely-adhering short lint or fiber is housed within the outer case 1, preferably of a cylindrical form and essentially consisting of an imperforate cylindrical body supranged end heads 2 and 3, which also constitute stands for properly supporting the entire machine. Also the end heads 2 and 3 constitute closures for the ends of the inte terior cylindrical scouring-shell 2 which is arranged inside of the enter case The letter is arranged in concentric spaced relation to the scourin shell 2 therein. to provide a suction-chamber which nearly completely enrrelops the scouringsheli, and at one side (preferably at the ho ttom) the said outer case is 'fiirm'ed with the downwardly-convergent hood portions 3*, the side and end walls of which converge to a central outlet-neclr 4. This outlet-neck has connected therewith one end of an air-suction pipe 5, leading to the inlet of a suitable exhaust or suction fan 6. The latter provides for maintaining a suction of sufiicient intensity to draw out and discharge from the scouring-shell 2 short fiber or lint, trash, and other foreign matter worked from the seed within the working space 7, which is provided between the. inner surface of .the scouring-shell 2 and the periphery of the rotary agitator 8, hereinafter more fully referred to. Furthermore, the hood portion of the outer case or suction-chamber is provided in one side thereof with an auxiliary air-inlet 9, designed to be covered and uncovered by the regulating damper or gate 10. This damper or ate maybe man pulated to increase or iminish the suction at will, thus placing under the control of the operator a simple means for regulating the en tire dhlinting action and the rapidity of discharge of the delinted seed.

The scouring-shell 2 Within the outer suction-case is of a general cylindrical shape and arranged to extend longitudinally within the case from end to end. (See Fig. 2.) The said shell is of a sectional construction and essentially consists of a series of parallel circular holders 11 and abrasive rings 12, carried by sa d holders, whereby the series of abrasive rings will provide an interior abrasive scouring-surface against which the seed is worked by the agitator 8. The entire series of circular holders 11 and the abrasive elements carried thereby form the main cylindrical body of the scouring-shell and are arranged side bycside in regular spaced relation to le'ave'therebetween the intervening annular discharge-slits 13 in communication with the interior working space 7'. These slits 13 are also in communication "with the suction-chamber envelop ng the scouringshell, whereby short fiber and other trash worked from the seed can readily escape into i the suction-case and thence be drawn out of the same through the suction dischargepi pe 5.

A feature of practical importance in con- 'nection with the construction of the slitted or perforated scouring-shell is the fact that the circular holding-rings 11 for the abrasive rings 12 are triangular in cross-section, thereby providing between contiguous rings outwardly-fiaring annular clearancespaces it in communication with the slits 13 and forming flaring discharging openings or exits for the lint and trash, some of which is drawn out by the suction action, while the long lint is tal'ren out of the scouring-shell and disposed of through the medium of the cooperating linting mechanism to be presently referred to. By reason of the construction specified' namely, the provision of narrow intervening annular discharge-slits opening into flaring annular spaces between the ringsit is obvious that a' perfectly free discharge is secured at all times for the lint and trash and choking of such discharge is obviated. Furthermore, on account of the flaring spaces 14 auniform and strong suction can be maintained aboutthe scouring-shell at the points or slits where the short lint and trash leave the working space 7.

Any desired number of the holding-rings '11 for the abrasive elements may be utilized and these holders are individually formed with an inner peripheral groove 15,'receiving a correspondingly-shaped retainin tongue 16, formed on the outer portion of t e abrasive ring 12,, Th s construction is a practical one from the fact that it provides a tight wedging fit for the abrasive rings in the hold ers therefor. I "f The abrasive rings 12are formed of car- 'borundum, emery stone, orequivalent abra sive substance to provide an inner abrasive scouring-surfacefor the shell, and to provide for the convenient and proper support of the several holders each of the same may be provided at diametrically opposite sides with the hanger-hooks 17, adapted to engage over and rest upon the side supportin bars 18, arranged longitudinally of the mac 'ne within oppos te side portions of the outer case 1. In addition to the said hooks and bars 17 and '18-, respectively, each holder is provided at the lower side thereof with a bifurcated keeper-lug 19, engaging over a longitudinallyarranged support'ng-bar 20. This construction securely and accurately positions and supports the various holders and their abrasive rings and also ermits'the same to be readily removed an replaced. 7

A feature of great importance in this in,

vention is the specific construction of the rotary agitator 8, whereby said agitator not only provides for keeping the seed in agitation and pressing the same against the inner scouring-surface of the shell 2, but also acts in the capacity of an air-distributer for uniformly feeding air into and distributing it throughout the working space 7 This agitator essentially corn rises a cylindrical hollow air-drum 21 of a length coextensive with that of the abrasive scourin shell 2 and mounted upon a longitudinal rive-shaft 22, whose ends are journaled in suitable bearings 23 and carried upon the end heads or castings 2 and 3, said drive-shaft being driven from any suitable source of power. In the practical construction of the machine the hollow air-drum 21 is preferably made up of a number of axially-a ined cylindrical shell-sections 24, provided throughout their entire entent longitudinally and circumferentially with a multiplicity of air-feeding perforations or ports and held supported in properlyalined relation upon a plurality of supporting-spiders 26, secured fast to the drive-shaft 22 at suitably-spaced intervals. It will be observed that each of the supportingspiders 26 is of an open-spoked formation to permit the free passage of air therethrough and is provided with a central hood portion 27, fitting the drive-shaft, and with a doublefianged rim portion 28, projecting from both sides of the plane of the spokes, upon which rim portions are fitted the ends of theperforate shell-sections 24 of the drumbody. it

will be noted by reference to Fig. i of the drawings that the contiguous ends of the adjacent shell-sections 24 fit over and rest upon the opposite rim-flanges 28 of the same supporting-spider 26. Also the terminal spiders 26-namely, those disposed at the extreme ends of the agitator 8are each arranged to have the outer rim-flanges 28 thereof rotatably register in the air-inlet eyes 29, provided in the end heads or castings 2 and 3. This construction is plainly shown in Fig. 4: of the drawings and provides not only foran extra end-bearing support for the ends of the airdrum or agitator, but also serves to close in the ends of the working space 7, while at the same time freely admitting an unlimited and ample supply of air into the perforated airdrum from both ends thereof.

In addition to being so constructed as to provide supporting means for the several perforated sections 24 of the air-drum the supporting-spiders 26 are provided with a plurality of fastening-lugs 30, projecting radially and centrally from the rim portions thereof and arranged at intervals on said rim means for holding the blades in place, as well as permitting the ready and convenient removal thereof for purposes of repair. The

said pressure-blades 31 constitute a part of the rotary agitator and air-distributor, and the same are preferably constructed of flat strips of steel or equivalent metal and are non-resilient. Also the said blades or wings are arranged in any suitable number upon the drum-body and are of a width nearly equaling the width of the working space 7, so

as to operate in close proximity to the abraslve working face of the scouring-surface. An effective feature of the rigid pressureblades "$1 is that the same are of a saw-tooth constructionth at is, provided along their outer working edges with a'continuous series of angular working teeth 33, which provide alternating points and notches, as plainly shown 1n Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. The best results have been attained by arranging the rigid toothed blades or wings 31 inregular longitudinal rows extending from end to end of the drum-body, and by reason of pro ecting radially and centrally fromv the drumbody the same will be rotated so as to present their flat sides to the seed.

in action the pressure-blades act, primarily, in the capacity of what may be termed nonabrasive members to press the seed in firm contact with the inner abrasive surface of the scouring-cylinder, and while the points of the toothed edges of the blades'serve to move the seed against the scouring-surface it will be obvious that the seed will freely roll in and out of the notches of the toothed edges. Hence the seed will ee-prevented from cracking or mashing, while at the same time being held up to the abrasive elements, thus insuring a very effective delinting action, which removes the closely-adhering short lint, while the long lint or fiber is taken care of by the cooperating linting mechanism now to be referred to.

In order to secure aproper delinting action, it is absolutely necessary to take care of and dispose of the long fiber or lint in addition to the means provided for removing and disposing of the short lint or fiber, which more closely adheres to thebody of the cottonseed. The present invention proposes to secure this desirable and practical result as a part of the delinting operation itself through the employment of a linting mechanism co- -saw-cylinder 341 and a discharging-brush 35.

The saw-cylinder 34 comprises a cylinder or gang of circular separatingsaws 36, arranged and mounted in substantially the same manner as ordinary gin-saws, the same being spaced in parallel relation and mounted upofi a common saw-arbor 37, driven by any suitable belt or gear connection at a proper speed. In ad apting the gang or cylinder of saws 36 to the other parts of the machine it will be ob served that the intervals or spaces between the individual or separate saws correspond to the spacing of the abrasi e rings forming the scouring-shell, so that the saw-arbor 37 may be supported in such a position as to permit the individual saws to project into and through the discharging slits or intervals 13 between the abrasive rings of the scouringshell. The ed es of the saws entering the slits 13 are heir out of contact with the contiguous portions of the adjacent abrasive rings, while at the same time projecting past the inner scouring-surface of the shell, so that the teeth of the saw will operate directly in I tages of the herein-described machine, will be the working space 7 and thereby serve to catch and take out of the said working space the long fiber which is always carried by the seed coming from the cotton-gin.

It is preferable in carrying out the invention to arrange the gang or cylinder of saws 36 above the scouring-shell, and to provide for properly housingthe saws the end heads or castings 2 and 3 support therebetween a closed saw-chamber 38, surmounting the outer suction-case, and preferably provided at one side with a normally closed door 39, permitting ready access to the said sawchamber. The suction-chamber within the case 1 is cut off from the interior of the sawchamber38 by the cut-off partitions 40, 'eX- tending across the suction-chamber betweenthe wall of the case 1 and the outer side of the scouring-shell 2 at the point of juncture between the case 1 and the chamber 38. This construction prevents the strongdraft horn the pipe 6 for carrying out the short lint and dust from interfering with the action of the saws and the fan action of the dischargingbrush 35, which is arranged within a brushcasing 41, arranged. at one side of the sawchamber, but likewise conveniently mounted between'the headsorcastings 2 and 3. The rotating brush is mounted on a brush shaft or arbor 42, driven by any suitable belting or gearing, and the said brush operates against the saws at one side of the saw-cylinder in the same manner as the brush of a gin;

but in the present invention at the point of communication between the saw-chamber 38 and the brush-casing ll, there is arranged a draft-cut-od screen made up of a plurality of saw-ribs 43, arranged between the individual saws contiguous to the brush-enga ed edges thereof. Said ribs 43 do not inter ere with the lint being carried past the same by the saws, but at the same time cutofi the draft sufficiently from the suction connections with the scouring-shell so as to not interfere with the fan action of the brush 35 in sweeping the lint from the saws and blowing the same through the lint discharging flue 44 onto the condenser 45. The arrangement of the lint-discharging flue 44 to the brush 35 and to the condenser 45 is the same as is com mon to gin constructions, as is well understood by those skilled in the art.

At one end the machine is provided with a feed-spout 46 for admitting undelinted material as it comes from the gin into the scouring-shell, and at the opposite end the shell is in communication with a delivery-spout 47 for the delinted seed. The fiber which is taken out from the scouring-shell by the readiiy apparent without further description, and it will be understood that various chan es in the form, proportion, and minor detai s of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificin any of the advantages of the invention. 7

aving thus described my invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is'

1. In a cotton-seed-delinting machine, a scouring-shell having a perforate body por tion, suction discharging means for maintaining a draft through said body portion, an agitator within the shell, and means for ad mitting air into the shell through the center thereof and circulating the same from the con ter outward through the perforate body portion of the-shell.

2. In a delinting-machine, a cylindrical sco uring-shell consisting of a series of spaced abrasive rings, an agitator within the shell, suction discharging means including an outer suction-case arranged about the shell, 9.

,closed saw-chamber disposed at one side of the suction-case, a brush-casing arranged at one side of the saw-chamber and in communication therewith, a ribbed draft cut olf screen located between the brush-casing and the saw-chamber, a cylinder of rotary circular saws mounted within. the saw chamber and projecting into the shell through the spaces between the rin s thereof, said saws also extending through said draft-cut-off screen, and a rotary discharging-brush arranged within the brush-casing and operating against the saws.

3. In a delinting-machine, a scouring-shell having a perforate body portion, an agitator within the shell, means for admitting air into the shell through the center thereof, suction discharging means including an outer suctioncase arranged about the shell, and rotary ch cular separatin saws projectin into the shell through t e perforate b0 y portion thereof.

4. in a delinting-machine, an abrasive scouring-shell having a perforate body portion, acombined agitator and air feeding distributer arranged within the shell, suction discharging means for removing short fiber and trash from the perforate body portioni and separating-saws projecting into the she] throu h said perforate body portion.

5. n a delinting-machin'e, an outer case, a, I scouring-shell having an inner abrasive sure J face and a series of annular flaring spaces, opening at their apices into the shell, an agi tater, and circular rotatin saws projecting into the shell through said aring spaces.

6. in a delinting-rnachine, a cylindrical scouring-shell comprising a continuous series of eross-sectionally' triangular abrasive rings aced apart to leave intervening dischargesiits, suction discharging means for maintainfee ing a suction through said slits, separatingsaws projecting into the shell through said slits, and an agitator Workingjn said shell.

7. In a delinting-machine, a scouring-shell having a perforate body portion, suction discharging means for' maintaining a draft through the perforate body portion, and a combined rotary agitator and air-distributer arranged within the shell and having a hollow perforate body portion in communication with the outer air.

8. In a delinting-machine, a scouring shell, and a combined rotary agitator and air-distributer Working in the shell and having a hollow perforate body portion in communication with the outer air.

9. In a delinting-machine, a scouring-shell, and a combined rotary agitator and distributer operating within the shell and having a perforate body portion, and a plurality of rigid pressure-blades projecting through said body portion.

10. In a delinting-machine, a scouringshell, and a combined rotary agitator and dissaid ody portion, said pressure-blades having saw-tooth working edges.

11. In a delinting-machine, a scouringshell, and a combined rotary agitator and airdistributer consisting of a shaft, a plurality of spaced spiders mounted on the shaft and having double-flanged rim portions'and adial fastening-lugs, a hollow air-drum made up of a plurality of a ially-alined perforate shell-sections fitted o the rim portions of the spiders, and pressure-blades arranged on the drum and secured to said fastening-lugs, the said air-drum having. communication at its ends with the outer air.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in'presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ADRON RAGSDALE. 

